Plant a tree to celebrate the jubilee

Schools and community groups in Deeside and Donside are being urged to contact Woodland Trust Scotland who are giving away free trees throughout the Diamond Jubilee year.

A variety of themed tree packs are available, ranging from year-round colour to wild harvest, wildlife and wood fuel, to suit different planting locations, and in three different sizes. Each pack contains a royal oak sapling grown from acorns gathered on a royal estate.

For the chance to receive a medium (105 trees) or large (420 trees) pack this autumn, groups need to register online by August 20. Schools wishing to plant just 60 trees have until October to apply.

Across Scotland, a total of 102,000 trees have already been given away this year, 9200 of them in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

By the end of 2012, the Woodland Trust will have supported the planting of six million trees throughout the UK, two million in Scotland. This lasting tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will benefit people and wildlife for generations to come.

Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Communities across Scotland are not only making an amazing difference now, they are investing in the long-term benefits trees will provide such as shade and shelter and homes for wildlife.

“There’s a saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now. We’re offering people the chance to take their place in history by helping to transform Scotland’s landscape in just a single generation.”

The tree packs have been sponsored by IKEA, Biffa Award, the People’s Postcode Lottery and Sainsbury’s.

The supermarket giant is also the lead corporate sponsor for the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods Project.

· To apply for a community tree pack, head to: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/jubilee-woods/communities

· For a school pack, visit: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/jubilee-woods/what-you-can-do/schools/free-schools-packs